After walking for three hours the group takes their break to get a snack, and do some training. Jacob decides to get some practice using his Flash speed. He asks Phoebe to enchant his shoes so he doesn't burn them from the friction.
Phoebe: Do you think it'll work?
Jacob: No idea, but last time I did this I set my shoes on fire saving Sylvie and the other elf girls.
Sylvie: I remember that, you took out those bandits with the power of nature.
Jacob: Bending.
Sylvie: Huh?
Jacob: I was bending the elements. Wanna see me do it again?
Sylvie: I would love that.
Phoebe: I haven't seen it since the elf village.
Roxy & Inki: I haven't seen it at all.
Jacob: Okay, okay. Here I go.
Jacob closed his eyes and focused on using the powers of the Avatar, he opened his eyes which were now shining white. The next thing he did was shoot fire out of his fists, pushed wind out of his palms, stomped the ground pushing the earth up, finishing by moving the water by the river around him as if it was a ribbon. The girls are awestruck seeing his technique, Inki and Roxy are especially impressed as this is the first time seeing this.
Inki: We oni embrace the element of fire, so seeing you control it like that made my heart skip a beat.
Jacob: Hahaha, I'm glad to make you feel excited.
Inki: Oh you always did that, controlling fire just made it more apparent.
Phoebe: Down girl.
They finish their break and continue their quest, Jacob has a sensation that they're being watched. He looks around but doesn't see anything, so he continues walking with the group.
They arrive at the destination and see it in utter ruins: animal and people corpses are strewn about, buildings and carts have been destroyed. The griffons are making their way into the forest to destroy another village.
Roxy: This is horrible.
Phoebe: We should find survivors.
The girls run around looking for survivors while Jacob walks in the direction of the griffons hoping to cut them off.
Sylvie: Jake, don't chase them. We need to help the citizens here.
Jacob: If we don't stop them there'll be more casualties.
Sylvie tried to respond but Jacob had used his Flash ability to sprint at the griffons. In an instant he was gone from their sight. Ale who was high in the sky and watching couldn't understand what happened. She looked everywhere to see if she could find Jacob, when she locked eyes on the five griffons. She noticed a blur zip past the griffons sending a couple careening into the ground. From her point of view it looked as if they just tripped. In an instant one of the griffons disappeared from her sight, very quickly the others disappeared one at a time too. She was frantically looking around wondering what happened when she saw them back at the village they had destroyed.
Ale: How did they get there?
She decided to fly closer to get a better view at everything. She perches herself in a tree close by but still out of sight. As she was watching, Jacob appeared out of nowhere in front of the griffons.
Ale: What is happening, where'd he come from?
Jacob stares the griffons down making sure they don't go anywhere. The girls find several citizens who are still alive and proceed to perform first aid.
Phoebe: It'll be okay, I'm here.
The boy Phoebe is healing has a nasty purple discoloration on his leg where a cut is.
Boy: It hurts so bad.
Phoebe: These griffons have poison on them somewhere. Don't worry young man I'll make the pain go away.
As she heals him Inki and Roxy bring in more injured civilians with similar purple discolorations on their bodies. The cut on the boy's leg heals and the color fades to his natural caramel skin color. His face which was contorted in pain calms down to a face at peace. Phoebe moves onto the rest of the civilians helping them.
Inki: I'm going to help Jake, Roxy let's go.
Roxy: Right.
They run out to the field where Jacob and the griffons are, while they run they pass Sylvie carrying another casualty into the building.
Roxy: Sylvie, please keep helping Phoebe, we're gonna help Jake.
Sylvie: Okay.
Roxy and Inki proceed to attack two of the griffons leaving Jacob with three. The battle starts and the griffons have a significant size advantage over the group, Roxy just barely reaches to their chest. Roxy uses her gauntlets to increase her punching and slashing power. Because of her nimble stature and animal movements the griffon has a hard time hitting her. She throws a powerful uppercut into the griffon's beak sending it flying and landing on its back. She extends her claws which charge a red aura from the gauntlets, goes on all fours and pounces. She slashes the griffon on its chest drawing blood but the attack is shallow. The griffon is able to turn itself around and get back on its feet, blood still dripping on the ground.
Roxy: I was really hoping that slash would've done more.
Over by Inki, she is attacking her griffon with powerful swings from her kanabo. She hits it in the leg, a crack is heard but it's clearly not enough to fully break the leg. The griffon starts pecking at her with its sharp beak, Inki is able to dodge most of the attacks but one peck pierces her shoulder. The wound is deep muscle and bone can be seen after the griffon pulls its beak out. Inki can't move her arm now and it's slowly turning a darker shade of red and purple.
Roxy: Are you okay?
Inki: I'm fine, be careful they produce poison.
Roxy: Your arm looks really bad, you need to go to Phoebe.
Inki: If I leave then you and Jake will be alone with five of these things.
With only one arm Inki uses half of her power in her swings doing less damage. The longer the fight goes on her arm becomes more purple, her sight becomes blurred and her movements become sluggish.
Roxy: Inki you need to go see Phoebe. If you keep this up you're going to die.
Inki: I'm fine!
She sways forward and backwards, when her vision goes completely and her arm has completely turned purple. The griffon charges at her with its mouth open ready to eat her. Roxy screams and runs to save her. Jacob also tries to get past the three griffons surrounding him.
Jacob & Roxy: INKI!
The griffon running at Inki gets right on top of her ready to bite down when a red blur flies in and grabs her.
Ale clamped down her talons on Inki's top and dragged her out of the way.
Jacob: Who's that?
Roxy: I don't know.
Ale: You're really stubborn and heavy.
Ale drags Inki away from the battlefield towards the aid area where Phoebe is helping people. As Ale drags Inki to the building Sylvie steps out, going to find more casualties.
Sylvie: Inki?
Ale: She's been badly poisoned, if we wait any longer she won't make it.
Sylvie: Oh gods, PHOEBE! PHOEBE!
Her screams reach Phoebe who had just finished healing an old woman who had her back slashed and poisoned. She runs out, seeing how bad Inki looks. Her initial reaction and reflex is to cover her mouth with her hands before kneeling down and trying to heal Inki.
Phoebe: What happened?
Sylvie: I don't know, this girl brought her here.
They both look at Ale who is just hovering over them concerned for Inki's well being.
Sylvie: Who are you?
Ale: I just saw someone in need.
Phoebe: Thank you, any longer and she would be dead.
Ale: We're not out of the woods yet.
Phoebe and Sylvie look and see Roxy trying to dodge two griffons while Jacob is weaving through the three to get to her.
Jacob: Roxy, are you okay?
Roxy: I'm trying my best, but it's not easy.
Jacob: I have an idea but I need all five in one spot.
Roxy: Follow me then.
Roxy goes on all fours to move faster and Jacob jumps around avoids all attacks. They arrive in front of Ale, Sylvie, Phoebe and the unconscious Inki. Jacob throws his arms outstretched to his side before bringing his hands together.
Ale: What's he doing?
Sylvie: Something new, but familiar.
A yellow light starts building in Jacobs hands, lightning starts flickering off his body, the ground begins to shake.
Inki's arm starts going back to its natural red, the wound on her shoulder starts healing, and she starts to open her eyes.
Inki: W-what's going on?
Phoebe: You got poisoned, that avian girl saved you before it was too late.
Inki: Avian?
Inki looks up to see Ale staring at Jacob. Once she saw Jacob charging his attack she struggled to her feet.
Inki: W-wait Jake, we agreed we would all get one.
Jacob: Plans changed, I didn't know these things had poison. They're nimble and durable.
Phoebe: Is that why you're trying to destroy them in one attack?
Jacob: Yep.
Sylvie: Is that one of those attacks that could "destroy the planet"?
Jacob: Yeeep.
Ale: Wait, DESTROY THE WORLD?!
Roxy: Don't worry, even if he went all out he can't destroy ours. At least that's what he says.
Ale gets nervous thinking that this man could be more dangerous than the demon king. She noticed that the pressure in the air was heavy, it felt as if she couldn't breathe and that her legs would buckle. The lightning around Jacob gets more intense as the yellow ball of energy envelops his hand. Ale is terrified that she is about to be swallowed up and destroyed by this power, when Jacob smiles.
Jacob: FINAL FLASH
An enormous wave of power explodes out of Jacobs hands. The blast swallows all five griffons and an area of the forest behind them before arching up towards the sky. The force of the blast pushes all the girls down, Ale who has never experienced this could not brace herself and was sent flying into the wall of the house. Inki grabbed Ale to make sure she didn't hurt herself.
Ale: Thank you, is this really his power?
Phoebe: Actually I think it's stronger, the last one was just a quick explosion.
Sylvie: At this rate he could destroy the whole demon army alone.
The blast begins receding until it stops entirely. Upon seeing it clearly, Ale is shocked at how much damage it did. The griffons were completely erased leaving no trace, a straight line of devastation taking several trees out. The further back it goes you can see the arch that would leave stumps, trunks, and eventually only take the tops of trees.
Ale: Oh wow.
Jacob: Well, that was strenuous.
Inki: I bet you almost destroyed the area.
Everyone starts to laugh when Jacob collapses. Shocked and confused, the girls run to him.
Sylvie: W-what just happened?
Roxy: I don't know?
Inki: Did he over exert himself again?
Roxy: No look!
The girls look where Roxy is pointing and see that he was scratched on the back of his leg. His whole leg had turned a dark sickly purple. Phoebe started applying first aid to save him.
Inki: How long ago was he poisoned?
Roxy: I didn't even notice, the whole time he was charging that blast he looked fine.
Phoebe: It's possible that he didn't know he was poisoned and using that attack caused it to spread like a wildfire in his body.
Sylvie: Can you stop it?
Phoebe: At this point I can do what I can, it's gonna have to be on him.
Roxy: It's Jake, we know he'll be fine.
Phoebe: I hope so, cause after this I'm gonna hit him.
Sylvie: Woah Phoebs I've never heard you so aggressive.
Phoebe: I'm just so tired of him almost dying all the time, it's not good for my heart.
Roxy: I'm with you.
The girls start tearing up from a combination of sadness and anger as it hadn't been too long since he almost died in his battle against Bazrik. Ale walks up and kneels over Jacobs and cries on the scratch. Once her tears hit his wound the color comes back to his skin and his wound seals up. Jacob shoots up confused and not knowing what's going on.
Jacob: What happened, why is everyone staring at me?
Roxy: You don't know what happened?
Jacob: No, we were just laughing and now you're all crying around me.
Phoebe: You were poisoned, you amazing fool.
Jacob: When did that happen?
Inki: Who cares you're okay now.
All the girls jump on Jacob and hold him tight. Ale looks at them and smiles happy she was able to help Jacob.
Roxy: I don't even know you and yet you've saved two people important to me.
Phoebe: To us. But who are you?
Ale: My name Ale, I'm a phoenix avian, and the princess of Falcon Haven.
Sylvie: The princess.
All of the girls begin to properly bow in front of her, Jacob just stares at them and Ale. Jacob stands up and dusts himself off. Initially all but Phoebe get nervous seeing him not show Ale the proper respect.
Jacob: A phoenix huh, that's pretty cool.
Ale: Y-yeah. Um, why aren't you bowing like they are?
Jacob: I see no point, I'm not from a kingdom, I come from a republic where we elect our leaders and we don't bow to any of them.
Ale: Oh wow.
Jacob: Yeah so regardless of where I am, I don't plan on bowing to any king, queen or equivalent.
Most of the girls looked at Jacob in shock except Phoebe who just laughs.
Roxy: What's so funny Phoebe?
Phoebe: This just reminds me a lot of when Jake arrived here and the king of Rayner yelled at him.
Sylvie: What did the king yell at him for?
Phoebe: Funnily enough, not bowing to him. He hasn't changed in his ways and I love that about him.
Inki: It is attractive.
Roxy: But a little scary, not all royals would take kindly to the disrespect.
Jacob: Well they're gonna have to get used to it from me and my boys.
Sylvie: Don't get us killed.
Jacob: Come on, it's me we're talking about.
Ale just started to laugh at hearing everything, everyone including Jacob was surprised. She laughs so hard she starts to tear up.
Ale: I'm glad I got to meet someone who doesn't hear about me being royalty and needs to try and butter me up so they can get ahead or try to randomly try to propose to me so they can gain royalty status. I like that someone is just speaking to me like I'm a regular person.
Jacob: Hm, yeah well rich or poor, famous or unknown people are just people. The only difference is how you treat them.
Ale: I agree. Well with this I think I need to head back before my father gets worried, I hope we meet again. Uhhh, what are your names?
They introduce themselves to Ale who happily shakes their hands with her wings. She wishes them a good day and flies back in the direction of Falcon Haven.
Jacob: So I did grab these, do you think this is enough to complete the quest?
In his hand are feathers from the griffons, Sylvie sighs, Inki smacks her head, Roxy and Phoebe laugh.
Phoebe: Well it's a little less than the chimera but it should be fine.
Jacob: Good enough for me. Let's head back to town.
Sylvie: Hang on, we should check on the villagers.
The group heads into the building where the injured villagers are. The villagers are sitting up, some are walking around and some are still laying down resting.
Villager: D-did you beat those monsters?
Roxy: Yes, you're safe now.
Jacob: How is everyone?
Villager: We're doing okay, some are still resting but most of us are on our feet trying to help those still injured.
Phoebe: Do you need any more first aid?
Villager: I think we'll be okay. Thank you so much for helping us.
Sylvie: It's our pleasure, we'll inform the guild of your situation. They might be able to send some supplies to help get you back on your feet.
Villager: Thank you again.
The group leave the village to make their way back to Falcon Haven.
Ale makes her way back to her home at the top of the tallest tree, she enters through the sunroof and sees the shadow of her father sitting on his throne.
Ale: Hi dad.
Rie doesn't say anything nor does he move.
Ale: I think I found someone I'm interested in, so I was thinking we invite them so you could meet them. Again Rie doesn't respond.
Ale: I'm sure you'll like him, he's strong and can protect me.
She looks at Rie who hasn't said anything or moved an inch since she arrived.
Ale: Dad, daddy?
She moves closer to her father and upon further inspection she sees a knife sticking out of his chest, his eyes are open but the light has long since faded. Ale screams at the sight of her fathers corpse on his throne. Gria her older brother runs in, just like his father his feathers are a brilliant blue, his hair is light brown and his eyes are gray.
Gria: Ale, what's going on?
Ale: Gria, i-its dad!
Gria moves closer to his father and sees what Ale saw, he covers his mouth and looks at Ale who is crying. He comforts his sister as he shouts for help. The guards run in holding lances and see the scene, shocked and in disbelief everyone just stands staring at the corpse.
Gria: Ale, did you see anything?
Ale: No, I just got back.
Guard: Where were you princess?
Ale: I went into the town to find a suitor. I was gone all day.
Gria: Captain, run an investigation and figure out who could've done this to our father.
Captain: Yes my lord. It would be wise for you and the princess to go into hiding just in case the perpetrator comes back.
Gria: Ale you go into hiding, our kingdom needs a leader especially after this.
Ale: I can't leave you, what if something happens!
Gria: I was already being trained to take over, I guess I have to take command earlier than planned. And as my first order, you will go into hiding.
Ale: Where will I go?
Gria: We need to put you up with guards who will protect you. Then you will leave the town and hide out.
Ale: If someone was able to get the best of father who could best our top general, no one can protect me.
Gria: I have no other choices.
Ale: I might have someone.
Gria: Who?